An airborne gas processing system and method

Abstract

A system and method configured for airborne processing of captured gaseous matter from the earth's atmosphere while utilizing unique high-altitude conditions in order to create a desired substance/s, wherein the operation of said system and method is designated to have an effect on the concentration of at least one gaseous matter in the atmosphere.

1 . An airborne gas processing system, comprising:
 (i) at least one aerial unit configured to be airborne and to carry a payload compartment;   (ii) at least one gas processing means configured to form a part of the payload compartment;   (iii) storage means configured to form a part of the payload compartment;   (iv) a controller configured to control the system's operation; and   (v) an energy source configured to enable the system's operation,   
       wherein separated gaseous matter is configured to be processed by the gas processing means and be converted into desirable substance by utilizing unique high-altitude conditions, and 
       wherein the desirable substance synthesis process is designated to reduce the concentration of the separated gaseous matter in the atmosphere. 
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one non aerial unit, wherein the aerial unit is configured to transfer desirable substance stored within the storage means to the non-aerial unit. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the separated gaseous matter is carbon dioxide. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the separated gaseous matter is carbon monoxide. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one gas processing means is operable while the aerial unit is airborne at an altitude range of 5-40 km. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the gas processing means comprises at least one pressure increasing apparatus. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the gas processing means comprises chemical catalysts configured to utilize a gas processing procedure. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the chemical catalysts are based on sorbents for carbon dioxide. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the gas processing means comprises biological enzymes configured to utilize a desired substance synthesis. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the aerial unit is a high-altitude balloon. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the aerial unit is configured to be retrofitted to an aerial vehicle. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the aerial unit is integrated into the propulsion means of the aerial vehicle. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one storage means is configured to be released from the aerial unit and reach the non-aerial unit. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the non-aerial unit comprises a designated landing area configured to capture the at least one storage means. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one storage means comprises guidance means configured to guide the at least one storage means from the aerial unit to the non-aerial unit. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the non-aerial unit is configured to be located on the ground. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the non-aerial unit is configured to be located on a body of water. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the non-aerial unit further comprises a docking area. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the non-aerial unit is configured to be located on a vessel. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to generate navigation commands in order to control the aerial unit. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 1 , further configured to exploit the low temperatures at high altitudes in order to liquefy or solidify the separated gaseous matter and/or the desirable substance. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the energy source is based on solar energy. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the energy source is based on wind energy. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the energy source is a prestored power reservoir. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the energy source is configured to power the aerial unit by using a wired connection. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the gas processing means is configured to convert captured carbon dioxide into hydrocarbons. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the hydrocarbons are methanol/ethanol/formic acid/isopropanol/butyl alcohol. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the payload compartment comprises an insulated volume configured to store components that may be harmed from exposure to extreme environmental conditions. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the payload compartment comprises a non-insulated volume configured to store components that benefit from exposure to extreme environmental conditions. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the gas processing means are configured to be stored in the insulated volume. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the storage means are configured to be stored in the non-insulated volume. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the conversion to desirable substance is configured to be utilized by photocatalysis using sunlight absorbing materials. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 32 , further comprising means designated to provide radiation augmentation. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising contained hydrogen, wherein carbon dioxide and hydrogen are configured to be processed by the gas processing means in a desired stoichiometric ratio in order to create water. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein the contained hydrogen is compressed by a designated compressing means. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the desirable substance is configured to be released to the ambient air. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the gas processing means is configured to convert captured carbon dioxide into plastics/carbon fibers/carbon nano tubes. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the aerial unit comprises a balloon filled with gas, and wherein said stored gas is designated to be utilized as a feedstock along with the separated gaseous matter in order to synthesize the desirable substance. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein the stored gas is hydrogen. 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a panel configured to enable radiation penetration which, in turn, plays a role in the synthesis of the desired substance. 
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the desired substance is carbon monoxide. 
     
     
         42 . A method for gas processing using an airborne gas processing system, comprising the steps of:
 (i) separating at least one designated gaseous matter from the air using an aerial unit,   (ii) processing the separated gaseous matter using the gas processing means forming a part of the aerial unit, and   (iii) converting the separated gaseous matter into a desirable substance by utilizing unique high-altitude conditions.